System for processing synchronization signals with phase synchronization in a mobile communication network

ABSTRACT

An output switch for a switching center of a local trunk device produces an output synchronization signal. The output switch is supplied with a local hierarchy indication signal. Based upon this input signal, a set signal producing device in the output switch produces a set signal for output. The set signal provides an indication that the input local hierarchy signal does not correspond to a highest hierarchy. Additionally, the output switch produces a reset signal when a monitored supply voltage falls below a predetermined threshold. Moreover, in response to both the set signal and the reset signal and a manual switch, the output switch gates the output synchronization signal to produce a switched synchronization signal.

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 07/995,721 filed Dec. 23,1992, U.S. Pat. No. 5,426,633.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a synchronization signal processing system foruse in a mobile communication network which comprises a plurality ofmobile service switching centers and a plurality of base transceiverstations and is operable in a time division fashion.

The mobile communication network has an overall service area which isdivided into cells or radio zones assigned with the base transceiverstations, respectively, and in which a plurality of mobile stations arepresent, namely, either moving or staying standstill, at a time. Eachmobile station may be either a portable telephone device carried by auser or a subscriber's terminal installed in an automobile or in a likemobile vehicle and is movable from a first zone of the cells to a secondzone of the cells.

It is possible to understand that each mobile service switching centeris connected to a plurality of fixed subscriber substations eitherdirectly or through at least one exchange office. Some of the mobileservice switching centers are connected to the base transceiverstations. More particularly, each of such mobile service switchingcenters is connected to a certain number of base transceiver stations.

The mobile service switching centers are connected to one another bywired communication lines. The mobile service switching centers and thebase transceiver stations may be connected through wired communicationlines. Among the overall service area, some of the cells are oftenreferred to collectively as a radio communication area when assigned tothe base transceiver stations which are served by one of the mobileservice switching centers.

Each base transceiver station is for transmitting and receiving radiomessage signals to and from at least one of the mobile stations that iscurrently present in the cell assigned with the base transceiver stationunder consideration. For use in time division multiple access (TDMA),the radio message signals are carried by a radio carrier signal of aradio frequency in a plurality of time slots. A predetermined number ofsuch time slots are successively arranged in a frame in the manner knownin the art.

When a particular station of the mobile stations moves between the firstand the second zones assigned with first and second stations of the basetransceiver stations, the first and the second stations use differentradio frequencies and different time slots in transmitting and receivingthe radio message signals to and from the particular station. The firstand the second stations may be connected either to one or to two of thebase transceiver stations. In either event, the particular station isinevitably subjected to a handover processing between the first and thesecond stations. It is therefore desirable to preliminarily synchronizethe frames and the time slots in the base transceiver stations in orderto reduce a time necessary for such a handover processing as a handoverprocessing time.

In the manner which will later be described, a conventionalsynchronization signal processing system comprises an individualsynchronization signal generating circuit in each mobile serviceswitching center. When connected to such a mobile service switchingcenter, the base transceiver station can generate synchronized framesand synchronized time slots for the mobile stations which are currentlypresent in the radio communication area served by the base transceiverstation under consideration.

A little more in detail, the synchronization signal generating circuitcomprises first and second time division switches, each comprisingcontrollable connection paths and producing a switch trouble signal whena trouble occurs therein. A controller device is cross connected to thefirst and the second time division switches and is supplied with theswitch trouble signal to control the connection paths of one of thefirst and the second time division switches that is not producing theswitch trouble signal and serves as an active switch with the other ofthe first and the second time division switches used as a standbyswitch. A synchronization signal generator is connected to the activeswitch to supply a synchronization signal to the connection paths of theactive switch. Output trunk circuits are connected to the connectionpaths of the first and the second time division switches to supply thesynchronization signal to at least one of the output trunk circuit fromthe connection paths controlled by the controller device to the basetransceiver stations served by mobile service switching center inquestion.

It is liable that the synchronization signal generator is involved intoa trouble. First and second synchronization signal generators aretherefore cross connected to the first and the second time divisionswitches. Alternatively, it is possible to understand that the first andthe second synchronization signal generators are connected to the activeswitch. In either event, each synchronization signal generator producesa generator trouble signal when a trouble occurs therein. Supplied withthe generator trouble signal, the controller device controls theconnection paths of the active switch to supply the output trunkcircuits with the synchronization signal generated by one of the firstand the second synchronization signal generators that is not producingthe generator trouble signal.

As a consequence, the conventional synchronization signal processingsystem can deal with troubles that may occur in the time divisionswitches and/or in the synchronization signal generators. It is,however, impossible to keep the phase of the synchronization signal whenthe first and the second synchronization signal generators are switchedfrom one to the other.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is consequently a principal object of the present invention toprovide a synchronization signal processing system for use in a mobilecommunication network comprising a plurality of mobile service switchingcenters and a plurality of base transceiver station, which system isused in common to the mobile service switching centers in making thebase transceiver stations of the network produce radio message signalswith frames and time slots synchronized.

It is a subordinate object of this invention to provide asynchronization signal processing system which is of the type describedto comprises a plurality of time division switches and a plurality ofsynchronization signal generators and which can make the basetransceiver stations substantially continuously produce the radiomessage signals even when a trouble occurs in at least one of the timedivision switches or in at least one of the synchronization signalgenerators.

Other objects of this invention will become clear as the descriptionproceeds.

According to an aspect of this invention, there is provided asynchronization signal processing system comprising: (A) a time divisionswitch comprising controllable connection paths; (B) a plurality ofsynchronization signal generators for generating phase synchronizationsignals to the connection paths, each of the synchronization signalgenerators producing a generator trouble signal when a trouble occurstherein; (C) a plurality of synchronization signal selectors forselecting a selected synchronization signal from the phase synchronizedsynchronization signals supplied through the connection paths to supplythe selected synchronization signal to the connection paths, each of thesynchronization signal selectors producing a selector trouble signalwhen a trouble occurs therein; and (D) a controller device forcontrolling the connection paths to make the connection paths receive inresponse to the generator trouble signal the phase synchronizationsignal generated by one of the synchronization signal generators andreceive in response to the selector trouble signal the selectedsynchronization signal selected by one of the synchronization signalselectors, the above-mentioned ones of the synchronization signalgenerators and selectors being different from the synchronization signalgenerators and selectors by which the generator and the selector troublesignals are produced.

According to a different aspect of this invention, there is provided asynchronization signal processing system which is for use in a localswitching center comprising a time division switch for receiving areceived synchronization signal from a higher hierarchy switching centerand for producing clock pulses and which comprises: (A) an addresscounter initialized by the received synchronization signal to count theclock pulses and to produce an address signal; (B) a nonvolatile memoryfor memorizing a memorized synchronization signal; and (C) reading meansfor reading the memorized synchronization signal by the address signalas a regenerated synchronization signal with the regeneratedsynchronization signal given a phase determined by initialization of theaddress counter.

According to a further different aspect of this invention, there isprovided a synchronization signal processing system which processes aplurality of received synchronization signals having their periods anddifferent degrees of priority to generate a regenerated synchronizationsignal in response to clock pulses and which comprises: (A) selectingmeans for selecting, from at least one of the received synchronizationsignals that has its period correctly, a selected synchronization signalin consideration of the different degrees of priority; (B) a nonvolatilememory for memorizing a memorized synchronization signal and anallowable phase range; (C) an address counter responsive to the clockpulses for accessing the nonvolatile memory with a controllable timingto make the nonvolatile memory produce the memorized synchronizationsignal as the regenerated synchronization signal and the allowable phaserange as a read-out phase range; and (D) timing control means suppliedwith the selected synchronization signal and the read-out phase rangefor controlling the controllable timing to phase synchronize theregenerated synchronization signal with the selected synchronizationsignal within the allowable phase range.

According to a still further different aspect of this invention, thereis provided a synchronization signal processing system which is for usein a local switching center of a local hierarchy in processingsynchronization signals of zeroth and first series and which comprisestrunk devices of the zeroth and the first series, wherein each of thetrunk devices is of one of the zeroth and the first series andcomprises: (A) a synchronization signal regenerate and relay circuitsupplied with the synchronization signals and a selected synchronizationsignal of the other of the zeroth and the first series as three inputsignals, giving different degrees of priority to the three inputsignals, monitoring whether the three input signals are normal orabnormal, selecting as a normal signal in accordance with the differentdegrees of priority one of the synchronization signals in a first one ofa plurality of controllable states and one of the three input signals ina second one of the controllable states that are normal, and generatingas a particular signal of the above-mentioned one of the zeroth and thefirst series a regenerated synchronization signal with its phaseadjusted to the normal signal, wherein the selected synchronizationsignal is the regnerated synchronization signal generated as aparticular signal of the other of the zeroth and the first series by thesynchronization signal regenerated and relay circuit of one of the trunkdevices that is of the other of the zeroth and the first series; (B) ahierarchy indicator for producing a hierarchy indication signalindicative of whether or not the local hierarchy is a highest hierarchy,a master/slave indicator for producing a local master/slave indicationsignal exclusively indicative of master and slave states; (C) an outputswitch for producing the particular signal of the above-mentioned one ofthe zeroth and the first series as an output synchronization signalunless the hierarchy indication signal indicates that the localhierarchy is the highest hierarchy; (D) hierarchy control means forcontrolling the controllable states into first and second states whenthe hierarchy indication signal is and is not indicative of the highesthierarchy; (E) master/slave control means for controlling the firststate into primary and secondary states and the second state into thefirst and the second ones of the controllable states when themaster/slave indication signal indicates the master and the slavestates; and (F) a monitor circuit for monitoring whether the particularsignal of the above-mentioned one of the zeroth and the first series isnormal or abnormal, the monitoring circuit producing an alarm signal andmaking the master/slave indication signal always indicate the slavestate when the particular signal of the above-mentioned one of thezeroth and the first series is abnormal; (A') the synchronization signalregenerate and relay circuit of the afore-mentioned each of the trunkdevices selecting the normal signal from none of the three input signalsin the primary state, from only the selected synchronization signal inthe secondary state, from only the synchronization signals in the firstone of the controllable state, and from all of the three input signalsin the second one of the controllable states.

According to a yet further different aspect of this invention, there isprovided a synchronization signal processing system for use in a localswitching center of a local hierarchy in processing receivedsynchronization signals of zeroth and first series with the receivedsynchronization signals received from a higher hierarchy switchingcenter as zeroth and first received synchronization signals and whichcomprises: (A) a synchronization trunk device of the zeroth series as azeroth synchronization trunk device; and (B) a synchronization trunkdevice of the first series as a first synchronization trunk device; (AB)the zeroth and the first synchronization trunk devices producing aparticular signal of the zeroth series as a zeroth particular signal anda particular signal of the first series as a first particular signal,respectively; (A') the zeroth synchronization trunk device beingsupplied with the zeroth and the first received synchronization signalsand the first particular signal as three primary input signals, givingprimary degrees of priority to the primary input signals with the zerothreceived synchronization signal and the first particular signal givenhighest and lowest degrees of priority, monitoring whether the primaryinput signals are normal or abnormal, selecting a primary normal signalin accordance with the primary degrees of priority one of the zeroth andthe first received synchronization signal in the master state and one ofthe primary input signals in the slave state that are normal, andgenerating as the zeroth particular signal a primary regeneratedsynchronization signal with its phase adjusted to the primary normalsignal; (B') the first synchronization trunk device being supplied withthe zeroth and the first received synchronization signals and the zerothparticular signal as three secondary input signals, giving secondarydegrees of priority to the secondary input signals with the firstreceived synchronization signal and the zeroth particular signal givenhighest and lowest degrees of priority, monitoring whether the secondaryinput signals are normal or abnormal, selecting a secondary normalsignal in accordance with the secondary degrees of priority one of thezeroth and the first received synchronization signals in the masterstate and one of the secondary input signals in the slave state that arenormal, and generating as the first particular signal a secondaryregenerated synchronization signal with its phase adjusted to thesecondary normal signal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a general block diagram of a synchronization signal processingsystem according to the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional signal processing system;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another conventional signal processingsystem;

FIG. 4 schematically shows a format of a frame synchronization signalfor use in describing the synchronization signal processing systemdepicted in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a synchronization signal processing systemaccording to a first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a synchronization signal processing systemaccording to a second embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial block diagram of a mobile communication networkwhich comprises a synchronization signal processing system according toa third embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a delay adjust trunk device which is usedin the synchronization signal processing system mentioned in connectionwith FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a time chart for use in describing operation of the delayadjust trunk device illustrated in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is another time chart for use in describing operation of thedelay adjust trunk device depicted in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a partial block diagram of a mobile communication networkwhich comprises a synchronization signal processing system according toa fourth embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a synchronization signal processing systemmentioned in conjunction with FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a partial block diagram of a synchronization signalprocessing system according to a fifth embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of the synchronization signal processingsystem mentioned in connection with FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of a modification of the synchronizationsignal processing system illustrated in FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram of another modification of thesynchronization signal processing system depicted in FIG. 14; and

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of an output switch for use in thesynchronization signal processing system illustrated in FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, a synchronization signal processing system of thepresent invention is for use in a mobile communication network of thetype described heretobefore. Only a part of the mobile communicationnetwork is illustrated.

The mobile communication network comprises a plurality of mobile serviceswitching centers which are connected to one another through wiredcommunication lines in a hierarchical manner. More particularly, themobile service switching centers include a single central master (CM)mobile service switching center (MSC), a plurality of local master (LM)mobile service switching centers, and a great number of terminal (TM)mobile service switching centers. The local master mobile serviceswitching central centers are lower hierarchy centers and connected tothe master center mobile service switching center which serves as ahighest hierarchy center. A plurality of the terminal mobile servicecenters are connected as lower hierarchy centers to each local mastermobile service switching centers which serves as a higher hierarchycenter relative to the terminal mobile service switching centers. Aplurality of base transceiver stations (BTS) are connected through wiredcommunication lines to each terminal mobile service switching centers inthe manner known in the art. It is possible to use a radio communicationline or channel as a certain one of the wired communication linesparticularly between one terminal mobile service switching center and acertain one of the base transceiver station.

It is known in the art in the manner described hereinabove that themobile communication network has an overall service area which isdivided into cells or radio zones assigned with the base transceiverstations, respectively. In the overall service area, a plurality ofmobile stations are present, namely, either moving or stayingstandstill, at a time.

Each base transceiver station is for transmitting and receiving radiomessage signals to and from at least one of the mobile stations that iscurrently present in the call assigned with the transceiver stationunder consideration. When attention is directed to such a basetransceiver station, the message signals are carried by a radio carriersignal of a radio frequency in a plurality of time slots. Apredetermined number of such time slots are consecutively arranged in aframe.

When a particular unit of the mobile stations moves between first andsecond zones of the cells assigned with first and second stations of thebase transceiver stations, the first and the second stations ordinarilyuse different radio frequencies and generally use different time slotsin transmitting and receiving the radio message signals to and from theparticular station. The synchronization signal processing system is forsynchronizing the frames and the time slots used by the base transceiverstations of the mobile communication network.

In FIG. 1, the radio communication network comprises higher and lowerhierarchy switching (SW) centers 25(1) and 25(2) connected by a wiredconnection line 27. The synchronization signal processing systemcomprises first and second time division switches (TDNW) 29(1) and 29(2)in the higher and the lower hierarchy switching centers 25 (suffixesomitted). The first and the second time division switches 29 (suffixesomitted) are primarily for exchanging or switching wired message signalsbetween the switching centers 25 for transmission and reception of theradio message signals to and from mobile stations (not shown) at thebase transceiver stations (not shown) connected to the lower hierarchyswitching center 25(2) either directly or through at least one furtherlower hierarchy switching center (not shown).

In the higher hierarchy switching center 25(1), a loop back device 31and a first digital trunk circuit 33(1) are connected to the first timedivision switch 29(1). In the lower hierarchy switching center 25(2), asecond digital trunk circuit 33(2) and a synchronization (SYNC) trunkcircuit 35 are connected to the second time division switch 29(2).

Turning to FIGS. 2 and 3, conventional signal processing systems willnow be described in order to facilitate an understanding of thisinvention. Similar parts are designated by like reference numerals.

In FIG. 2, the signal processing system is a tone signal distributingcircuit used in each of the mobile service switching centers 25. Firstand second time division switches 29(1) and 29(2) are used in the mobileservice switching center. Each of the time division switches 29(suffixes omitted as before) comprises controllable connection paths,only two of which are exemplified.

First and second tone generators 35(1) and 35(2) are for generatingfirst and second tone signals and cross connected to the time divisionswitches 29 to supply the first and the second tone signals to theconnection paths of the switches 29. First and second output trunkcircuits 33(1) and 33(2) are connected to the connection paths of theswitches 29.

Each of the switches 29 produces a switch trouble signal when a troubleoccurs therein. Each of the tone generators 35 (suffixes omitted)produces a generator trouble signal when a trouble occurs therein.

Cross connected to the switches 29 and supplied with the switch troublesignal, first and second controllers 37(1) and 37(2) control theconnection paths of one of the switches 29 that serves as an activeswitch, being different from the other of the switches 29 that isproducing the switch trouble signal to serve as a standby switch. If oneof the controllers 37 (suffixes omitted) is involved in a trouble, theother of the controllers 37 is used.

Supplied with the generator trouble signal, the controllers 37 controlthe connection paths of the active switch to make the connection pathsof the active switch supply the output trunk circuits 33 (the suffixesomitted as before) with the tone signal generated by one of the tonegenerators 35 that is different from the other tone generator by whichthe generator trouble signal is produced.

In FIG. 3, the signal processing system is an announcement signaldistributing circuit used in each of the mobile service centers 25.First and second announcement trunks 35(1) and 35(2) are connected tothe connection paths of the first and the second time division switches29.

The first and the second announcement trunk 35 (suffixes omitted) arefor generating a common announcement signal to serve as announcementsignal generators. Each of the announcement trunks 35 produces agenerator trouble signal when a trouble occurs therein. In otherrespects, the announcement signal distributing circuit is similar to thetone signal distributing circuit illustrated with reference to FIG. 2.

One of the announcement trunks 35 is therefore used as an active trunkthat is different from the other announcement trunk producing thegenerator trouble signal as a standby trunk. In the active switch, theconnection paths are depicted by solid lines when the connection pathsare connected to the active trunk. The connection paths are shown bydashed lines when connected to the standby trunk.

In the conventional signal processing systems, the tone generators inFIG. 2 are duplicated equipments for switches, and the announcementtrunks in FIG. 3 are signal equipment for switches. Ordinarily, thesignals produced by the tone generators and announcement trunks areasynchronous. Therefore, the signal phase supplied to output trunk jumpsbefore and after trouble occurrence. It is necessary to avoid such asignal phase jump in order to establish a synchronization signalprocessing system.

Referring to FIG. 4, a synchronization signal consists of first througheighth bits B1 to B8. More in general, such synchronization signals aretransmitted among the central master, the local master, and the terminalmobile service switching centers.

Referring particularly to FIG. 4, it is preferred that thesynchronization signal consists of a zeroth and a first channel. Theeighth bit B8 indicates the zeroth and the first channels by binary zeroand one. The seventh bit B7 is used as a multiframe synchronizationsignal indicative of multiframes and is given a binary one value once ineach duration of T×(N+1) second, where T represents a duration of oneframe period, N representing a predetermined integer. The sixth bit B6is used as a loop back signal. The fifth through the first bit B5 to B1have no concern with the following description.

Referring back to FIG. 1, the synchronization signal is transmittedbetween the higher and the lower hierarchy switching centers 25 throughthe wired connection line 27. Supplied with the loop back signal fromthe lower hierarchy switching center 25(2) through the first digitaltrunk circuit 33(1) and the first time division switch 29(1), the-loopback device 31 loops back or returns back the loop back signal towardsthe lower hierarchy switching center 25(2).

By so using the loop back signal, the lower hierarchy switching center25(2) can know a propagation delay time (a phase difference) which isnecessary to send the loop back signal towards the higher hierarchyswitching center 25(1) and to receiver the loop back signal from thehigher hierarchy switching center 25(1). On making the output trunkcircuit 33 send wired communication signals from the second timedivision switch 29(2) either to still lower hierarchy switching centersor to the base transceiver stations served by the lower hierarchyswitching center 25(2), the multiframe synchronization signal is given alead of a half of the propagation delay time.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the description will proceed to asynchronization signal processing system according to a first embodimentof this invention. Similar parts are designated by like referencenumerals and are similarly operable with likewise named signals.

In FIG. 5, the synchronization signal processing system is shown in oneof the local master and the terminal mobile service switching centersthat corresponds in FIG. 1 to the lower hierarchy switching center25(2). The first and the second time division switches 29 are crossconnected to first and second loop back devices 31(1) and 31(2) and tothe first and the second controllers 37. Producing a loop back devicetrouble signal, one of the loop back devices 31 (suffixes omitted)serves as a standby loop device when a trouble occurs therein. The otherof the loop back devices 31 serves as an active loop device.

A single input/output (I/O) trunk circuit 33(0) corresponds to thesecond digital trunk circuit 33(2) described in conjunction with FIG. 1and serves as an input trunk circuit. First through third input/outputtrunk circuits 33(1)a, 33(1)b, and 33(1)c collectively correspond to thefirst digital trunk circuit 33(1) of FIG. 1 and individually serve asoutput trunk circuits.

A higher connection line 27(0) connects the single input/output trunkcircuit 33(0) to one of input/output trunk circuits which a higherhierarchy switching center, such as 25(1) of FIG. 1, comprises incorrespondence to the first through the third input/output trunkcircuits 33 (suffixes omitted). A first lower connection line 27(1)connects the first input/output trunk circuit 33(1)a to a singleinput/output trunk circuit corresponding to the single input/outputtrunk circuit 33(0) in one of still lower hierarchy switching center andthe base transceiver stations which are served by the switching centerbeing illustrated. Second and third lower connection lines 27(2) and27(3) are similarly used. It should be noted that the singleinput/output trunk circuit 33(0) is depicted as an input trunk circuit.The first through the third input/output trunk circuits 33 areillustrated as output trunk circuits.

First and second synchronization signal (SYNC) generators 35(1) and35(2) collectively correspond to the synchronization trunk circuit 35described in connection with FIG. 1 and are connected to the activeswitch of the first and the second time division switches 29. First andsecond synchronization signal (SYNC) selectors 39(1) and 39(2) areconnected to the active switch.

If produced by the first and the second synchronization signalgenerators 35, the generator trouble signals are supplied to a trunkcontrol circuit 41. Each of the synchronization signal selectors 39(suffixes omitted) produces a selector trouble signal when a troubleoccurs therein. Such selector trouble signals are supplied to the trunkcontrol circuit 41. Responsive to the generator and/or the selectortrouble signal, the trunk control circuit 41 keeps one of thesynchronization signal generators 35 and selectors 39 as an activegenerator or selector that is different from the synchronization signalgenerator 35 and selector 39 producing the generator and the selectortrouble signals as standby generator and selectors.

A maintenance terminal 43 is connected to the controllers 37. The firstand the second synchronization signal generators 35 comprise first andsecond phase adjusters (φ) 45(1) and 45(2). In the manner which willpresently become clear, a combination of the controllers 37 and thetrunk control circuit 41 serves as a controller device.

In operation, the synchronization signal is delivered from the higherhierarchy switching center through the single input/output trunk circuit33(0) to the active switch of the first and the second time divisionswitches 29. Through the connection paths indicated by solid lines witharrowheads, the synchronization signal of the higher hierarchy switchingcenter is supplied to the active generator of the first and the secondsynchronization signal generator 35 as a generator input signal.Supplied with the generator input signal, the first and the secondsynchronization signal generators 35 generate, if both are activegenerators, phase synchronized synchronization signals which are phasesynchronized with the generator input signal. The synchronization signalgenerators 35 supply the phase synchronized synchronization signals tothe active switch. In this event, the synchronization signal generator35 deliver the phase synchronized synchronization signals to the activeswitch with the phase adjusters 45 (suffixes omitted) put out ofoperation.

Through the connection paths of the active switch, the phasesynchronized synchronization signals are supplied to the synchronizationsignal selectors 39. Each synchronization signal selector 39 checksnormality of the synchronization signals received from synchronizationsignal generators 35 and autonomously selects a selected synchronizationsignal from the phase synchronized synchronization signal to supply theselected synchronization signal to the active switch. Selection of theselected synchronization signal will later become clear. Incidentally,the connection paths between the loop back device 31 and thesynchronization signal selectors 39 of the time division switches 29 areswitched on the basis of information collected by the trunk controlcircuit 41 from the synchronization signal selectors 39.

Through the connection path indicated by a solid line with an arrowhead,the active switch supplies the selected synchronization signal to thefirst and the second loop back devices 31. In the example beingillustrated, the active loop device merely folds back the selectedsynchronization signal towards the first through the third input/outputtrunk circuits 33 with a common phase through connection paths of theactive switch.

Use of the loop back devices 31 makes it additionally possible to changethe connection paths of the active switch only between thesynchronization signal selectors 39 and the loop back devices 31 ratherthan between the synchronization signal selectors 39 and the firstthrough the third input/output trunk circuits 33 on putting one and theother of the synchronization signal selectors 39 into the active and thestandby selectors. This enables high-speed operation of switch betweenthe active and the standby selectors.

The high-speed operation is enabled for the following reasons. It willbe assumed at a time that the first synchronization signal selector39(1) is the active selector and the second synchronization signalselector 39(2) is the standby selector. If the loop back devices 31 werenot used, the first synchronization signal selector 39(1) must beswitched to the standby selector by dealing with three paths leadingtherefrom to three input-output trunk circuits 33(1)a to 33(1)c. Thesecond synchronization signal selector 39(2) must be switched to theactive selector by similarly dealing with three other paths. Use of theloop back devices 31 enables switching of their path only between thefirst and the second synchronization signal selectors 39.

When one of the synchronization signal generators 35 and one of thesynchronization signal selectors 39 are put into the standby generatorand selector, the trunk control circuit 41 informs this change to themaintenance terminal 43. When one of the time division switches 29, oneof the loop back devices 31, and one of the controllers 37 are put intothe standby switch, loop device, and controller, the active controllerexecutes this change and informs the maintenance terminal 43 of thisresult.

Referring to FIG. 6, the description will proceed to a synchronizationsignal processing system according to a second embodiment of thisinvention. Similar parts are designated by like reference numerals andare similarly operable with likewise named signals.

In FIG. 6, the synchronization signal processing system is depicted inthe central master mobile service switching center CM MSC which may bethe higher hierarchy switch 25(1) described in conjunction with FIG. 1.The synchronization signal processing system does not comprise thesingle input/output trunk circuit 33(0) described in connection withFIG. 5.

It will be assumed that the first synchronization signal generator 35(1)serves as the active generator and the second synchronization signalgenerator 35(2), as the standby generator. Under the circumstances, thefirst synchronization signal generator 35(1) generates an originalsynchronization signal without use of the first phase adjuster 45(1) tosupply the original synchronization signal to the first and the secondsynchronization signal selectors 39 and additionally to the secondsynchronization signal generator 35(2). Responsive to the originalsynchronization signal, the second synchronization signal generator35(2) generates a subordinate synchronization signal with the secondphase adjuster 45(2) put into operation of phase adjusting thesubordinate synchronization signal to the original synchronizationsignal.

When the first and the second synchronization signal generators 35 arethe standby and the active generators, the original synchronizationsignal is generated by the second synchronization signal generator 35(2)and is supplied to the first synchronization signal generator 35(1)through a connection path indicated in the active switch by a dashedline. In this manner, the active and the standby generators are switchedbetween the first and the second synchronization signal generators 35with no phase shift introduced into the phase synchronizedsynchronization signals in the mobile service switching centers, such as25(1) and 25(2) of FIG. 1, of the mobile communication network.Operation is not different in other respects in the synchronizationprocessing system being illustrated.

Referring now to FIG. 7, a part of the mobile communication network isdepicted from a different viewpoint and comprises a synchronizationsignal processing system according to a third embodiment of thisinvention. Similar parts are designated by like reference numerals withmodifications in some respects.

A local mobile service switching center 25(0) has a certain degree ofhierarchy and comprises a time division switch 29 which is connected toa higher hierarchy switching center 25(H) by a higher connection line27(H) and to a lower hierarchy switching center 25(L) by a lowerconnection line 27(L).

A delay adjust (DL) trunk device 47 is connected to the time divisionswitch 29 by an up-down highway 49. Merely for convenience ofillustration, each of the higher and the lower connection line 27(suffixes omitted) and of the up-down highway 49 is shown as a line of awide diameter.

Signals are transmitted through the higher connection line 27(H) as ahigher transmission signal, through the lower connection line 27(L) as alower transmission signal, and through the up-down highway 49 as up anddown highway signals. Each of the higher and the lower transmissionsignals and the up and the down highway signals is transmitted in framesand comprises the synchronization signal of the format illustrated withreference to FIG. 4.

The synchronization signal comprises the multiframe synchronizationsignal as an original synchronization signal in the higher transmissionsignal. The original synchronization signal is transmitted from thehigher hierarchy switching center 25(H) through the higher connectionline 27(H) in the manner indicated by a dash-dot line. Receiving theoriginal synchronization signal through the time division switch 29 andthe up-down highway 49 as a received synchronization signal, the delayadjust trunk device 47 produces a regenerated synchronization signal asa delay adjusted synchronization signal in the manner which will becomeclear in the following. The adjusted synchronization signal is deliveredto the lower hierarchy switching center 25(L) as a multiframesynchronization signal in the lower transmission signal through thelower connection line 27(L) as indicated by another dash-dot line. Theloop back signal is transmitted from the trunk device 47 through theup-down highway 49, the time division switch 29, and the higherconnection line 27(H) to the higher hierarchy switching center 25(H) inthe manner indicated by a dashed line, looped back at the higherhierarchy switching center 25(H) for return to the trunk device 47 asindicated by another dashed line.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the delay adjust trunk device 47 comprisesinput and output interfaces 51(1) and 51(2) connected to the timedivision switch 29 through a down highway 49D and through an up highway49U. Through the down highway 49D, the time division switch 29 sends thehigher transmission signal as a highway down signal HWD depicted in FIG.9 along a top or first row labelled HWD. In the manner described beforein conjunction with FIG. 4, the multiframe synchronization signal isgiven the binary one value once in each time duration of T×(N+1)seconds, where T represents a frame period, N representing apredetermined integer. The highway down signal is therefore divisiblerepeatedly into time slots TS(0), TS(1), TS(2), . . . , and TS(J), whereJ represents a predetermined natural number. One frame consists of (J+1)time slots TS(0) through TS(J).

The input interface 51(1) produces a frame pulse signal FM illustratedalong a second row labelled FM. The input interface 51(1) furthermoreproduces a received synchronization signal SYNCREC which is given abinary one value, as depicted along a third row labelled SYNCREC,between the time slot TS(2) of a frame and the time slot TS(1) of a nextframe, both inclusive. The received synchronization signal isalternatively called a receive loop back signal LBREC and is produced inresponse to the loop back signal looped back from the higher hierarchyswitching center 25(H).

Turning to FIG. 10 during a short while, the received synchronizationsignal is depicted along a top or first row labelled SYNCREC. Frameperiods are illustrated by dashed vertical lines and the multiframeperiods, by solid vertical lines. The frame pulse signal is depictedalong a second row labelled FM.

Turning back to FIG. 8 with FIG. 10 continuously referred to, an addresscounter 53 is reset to an initial value by the received synchronizationsignal SYNCREC and counts the frame pulses FM to produce an addresssignal ADD. Consequently, the address signal represents address counts,X, X+1, X+2, . . . , and X+N in each multiframe period in the mannerillustrated in FIG. 10 along a third row labelled ADD, where Xrepresents the initial value as an initial address value.

A first read-only memory (ROM) 55(1) is a nonvolatile pattern memorywhich has pattern addresses accessed by the address signal andpreliminarily loaded with various signal patterns at the respectivepattern addresses. By way of example, hexadecimal-zero patterns arestored in the pattern address accessed by the address counts X throughX+N-1. A hexadecimal-four-zero patterns are stored in the addressaccessed by the address count X+N. In this manner, the pattern memory51(1) memorizes the signal patterns collectively as a memorizedsynchronization signal.

A second read-only memory 55(2) is a nonvolatile timing memory which hastiming addresses accessed by the address signal and preliminarily loadedwith various timing patterns at the respective timing addresses. Forexample, hexadecimal-two-zero pattern is stored in the timing addressaccessed by the address count X, and hexadecimal-one pattern is storedat the address X+2. The hexadecimal-zero patterns are stored in othertiming addresses.

A pattern switch circuit 57(1) specifies a predetermined signal patternto give the initial address value X to the first read-only memory 55(1).It is possible to store the predetermined signal pattern in the patternmemory 55(1) at a time instant when the address count specifies aparticular pattern address. In this case, the hexadecimal-four-zeropattern is stored at the address X+N. The pattern memory 55(1) thereforeproduces a pattern signal which represents the hexadecimal-four-zeropattern every time when the address signal indicates the address countX+N. The pattern signal is illustrated in FIG. 10 along a fourth rowlabelled PAT. The pattern signal is delivered to the output interface51(2) for transmission as the delay adjusted synchronization signal.

A timing switch circuit 57(2) specifies a predetermined timing patternto give the initial address value X to the second read-only memory55(2). It is possible to store the predetermined timing pattern in thetiming memory 55(2) at a time instant when the address signal specifieseach of particular timing addresses. In this case, thehexadecimal-two-zero pattern is stored at the address X, and thehexadecimal-two pattern, at the address X+2. In each multiframe period,the timing memory 55(2) produces first and second timing signals TIM(1)and TIM(2). The first timing signal TIM(1) indicates that the timingmemory 55(2) produces the hexadecimal-one pattern. The second timingsignal TIM(2) indicates that the timing memory 55(2) produces thehexadecimal-two pattern. The first timing signal TIM(1) is delivered tothe output interface 51(2) and used to specify the sixth bit B6 of thetime slot TS(1) in a highway up signal which is transmitted through theup highway 49(U) to the switching center 25(H) via the switch 29 and thehigher connection line 27(H).

The second timing signal TIM(2) is delivered to a comparator 59, whichis supplied from the input interface 51(1) with the frame pulse signaland the loop back receive signal extracted from the sixth bit B6 of thetime slot TS(2). Timed by the frame pulse signal, the comparator 59compares phases of the second timing signal and the received loop backsignal. A comparison result signal represents a phase difference betweenthe receive loop back signal and the second timing signal and isdisplayed on a display device.

If this phase difference is equal to zero, it is understood that thetiming switch circuit 57(2) specifies the predetermined time pattern ina correct time relationship relative to the propagation delay timementioned above by referring back to FIG. 1. By adjusting the particulartiming addresses used in the timing switch circuit 57(2), it is possibleto measure a roundtrip delay time. It is usual to use in the patternswitch circuit 57(1) the particular pattern address which is equal to ahalf of the roundtrip delay time on the propagation delay time.

Referring again to FIG. 9 in addition to FIGS. 8 and 10, it will bepresumed that the propagation delay time is equal to one frame period.In this event, the pattern and the timing switch circuits 57 (suffixesomitted) are used in the manner exemplified above. The first timingsignal is illustrated in FIG. 10 along a fifth row labelled TIM(1) andthe second timing signal, along a sixth or bottom row labelled TIM(2).The highway up signal is depicted in FIG. 9 along a fourth or bottom rowlabelled HWU. The pattern signal is transmitted through the lowerconnection line 27(L) as the regenerated synchronization signal.

Reviewing FIGS. 7 through 10, it is possible to use a single nonvolatilememory for use as the pattern and the timing memories 55 (suffixesomitted) and a single switch circuit for use as the pattern and thetiming switch circuits 57. It is furthermore possible to use amicrocomputer (not shown) in automatically controlling either the singleswitch circuit or the pattern and the timing switch circuits 57 inresponse to the comparison result signal. The delay adjust trunk device47 makes it readily possible to cope with the propagation delay timewhich may be different depending on a geographic distance between eachpair of the center master, the local master, and the terminal mobileservice switching centers.

A combination of the pattern switch circuit 57(1) and the outputinterface 51(2) serves as a signal pattern reading arrangement. Anothercombination of the timing switch circuit 57(2) and the output interface51(2) serves as a timing pattern reading arrangement.

Referring now to FIG. 11, a mobile communication network comprisessimilar parts designated by like reference numerals and comprises asynchronization signal processing system according to a fourthembodiment of this invention. It should be noted that similarsynchronization signals are used in the synchronization signalprocessing system being illustrated.

It will be surmised that the synchronization signal is merely duplicatedinto zeroth and first series. The local switching center 25(0) thereforereceives zeroth and first synchronization signals p0 and p1 from thehigher hierarchy switching center 25(H) in a higher reception signal andtransmits zeroth and first synchronization signals q0 and q1 to thelower hierarchy switching center 25(L) in a lower transmission signal.The local switching center 25(0) transmits zeroth and firstsynchronization signals r0 and r1 to the higher hierarchy switchingcenter 25(H) in a higher transmission signal and receives zeroth andfirst synchronization signals s0 and s1 from the lower hierarchyswitching center 25(L) in a lower reception signal.

Turning to FIG. 12 with FIG. 11 continually referred to, the timedivision switches 29 are included in the local switching center 25(0)among the synchronization signal processing system being illustrated.For example, the input trunk circuit 33(0) of FIG. 5 is (M+1)-plicatedto collectively receive zeroth through M-th received synchronizationsignals p(0), p(1), . . . , and p(M) in the higher reception signal,where M represents a predetermined integer which is two or more. In themanner described with reference to FIGS. 8 through 10, a sequence ofclock pulses CLK is produced instead of the frame pulses. In this case,the synchronization signal indicates the seventh bit B7.

The zeroth through the M-th received synchronization signals are usedwith predetermined priority degrees and have zeroth through M-th timingrelationships with the clock pulses. Zeroth through M-th period monitors61(0), 61(1), . . . , and 61(M) are for monitoring the zeroth throughthe M-th periods of the zeroth through the M-th received synchronizationsignals with reference to the clock pulses. The zeroth through the M-thperiod monitors 61 (suffixes omitted) thereby produce zeroth throughM-th confirmation signals indicative of whether the zeroth through theM-th periods are normal or abnormal. The synchronization signals will becalled normal and abnormal synchronization signals when their periodsare normal and abnormal.

Ordinarily, some of the received synchronization signals are the normalsynchronization signals. With reference to the priority degree, aselection controller 63 produces an input selection signal indicative ofa particular synchronization signal which has a highest priority degreeamong the normal synchronization signals.

Controlled by the input selection signal, a synchronization signalselector 65 selects the particular synchronization signal as a selectedsynchronization signal from the zeroth through the M-th receivedsynchronization signals supplied thereto. The selected synchronizationsignal has a particular synchronization phase. Incidentally, each of thesynchronization signal selectors 39 (FIG. 5) selects the selectedsynchronization signal in this manner.

If the zeroth through the M-th received synchronization signals are allabnormal synchronization signals, the selection controller 63 producesan all abnormal signal. For the purpose which will presently becomeclear, an inverter 67 inverts the all abnormal signal into an invertedabnormal signal.

A read-only memory (ROM) 69 is a nonvolatile pattern memory having aplurality of pattern addresses which are equal in number to the timeslots in each multiframe period described before with reference to FIGS.8 and 9 and in which data are preliminarily stored to represent acorrect synchronization signal as a memorized synchronization signal.The data are additionally representative of an allowable phase rangewhich will shortly become clear.

Counting the clock pulses, an address counter 71 produces an addresssignal for use in consecutively accessing the pattern addresses of thenonvolatile pattern memory 69 repeatedly from an initial address. In themanner which will immediately be described, an initial value correctionsignal is supplied to the address counter 71 to adjust the initialaddress to a proper address.

When the data are cyclically accessed from the proper address by theaddress signal, the pattern memory 69 generates a regeneratedsynchronization signal with a correct regenerated phase. In addition,the pattern memory 69 produces a timing signal representative of theallowable phase range. The regenerated synchronization signal is used asone of the zeroth and the first synchronization signals q0, q1, r0, andr1 in the higher or the lower transmission signal.

Supplied with the selected synchronization signal and the timing signaland controlled by the clock pulses, a timing controller 73 compares thesynchronization phase with the allowable phase range. If thesynchronization phase is out of the allowable phase range, the timingcontroller 73 delivers a gate control signal to an AND gate 75, which issupplied with the selected synchronization signal and the invertedabnormal signal to supply the initial value correction signal to theaddress counter 71.

It will be presumed merely for simplicity of the description that in theseventh bit B7 each of the zeroth through the M-th and the regeneratedsynchronization signals has a logic one value in a particular time slotof the multiframe period and logic zero values at other time slots inthe manner described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. Under thecircumstances, the data are stored in the nonvolatile pattern memory 69with the logic one value for the seventh bit B7 at a particular addressof the regenerated synchronization signal. For the allowable phaserange, at least one logic one value is stored in, for example, the firstbit B1 of the data at the particular addresses.

As an initial value correction count, the timing controller 73 countsthe number of values which the seventh bit B7 of the selectedsynchronization signal does not change to logic one value while thefirst bit B1 of the timing signal keeps the logic one value. When thesynchronization phase is out of the allowable phase range in this mannerand the initial value correction count reaches a predetermined count,the gate control signal is given the logic zero value until the logicone value is indicated by the first bit B1 of the timing signalconcurrently with the logic one value of the seventh bit B7 of theselected synchronization signal.

If at least one of the zeroth through the M-th received signals is thenormal synchronization signal, the inverted abnormal signal is given thelogic one value. The selected synchronization signal is produced. Whenthe gate control signal is given the logic one value under thecircumstances, the logic one value of the seventh bit B7 of the selectedsynchronization signal passes through the AND gate 75 to become theinitial value correction signal.

If all of the zeroth through the M-th received synchronization signalsare the abnormal synchronization signals, the inverted abnormal signalis given the logic zero level. As a consequence, the AND gate 75produces no initial value correction signal. The regeneratedsynchronization signal is generated with a previous phase which has beengiven to the regenerated synchronization signal before the receivedsynchronization signals become all abnormal.

In FIG. 12, a combination of the period monitors 61, the selectioncontroller 63, and the synchronization signal selector 65 serves as aselecting arrangement. Another combination of the timing controller 73and the AND gate 75 serves as a timing control arrangement. The patternmemory 69 and the address counter 71 are equivalent to the patternmemory 55(1) and the address counter 53 described in conjunction withFIG. 8. It should be understood in this connection that the regeneratedsynchronization signal is given a correct phase in FIG. 12 by the timingcontrol arrangement and in FIG. 8 by using the receive loop back signaland the comparator 59. It is possible to use both the timing controlarrangement and the comparator 59 together with the switches 57particularly when the zeroth and the first received synchronizationsignals, such as p0 and p1, are used.

Referring now to FIG. 13, a synchronization (SYNC) trunk device 77 isused as a part of a synchronization signal processing system accordingto a fifth embodiment of this invention and is alternatively called asynchronization signal regenerate and relay device. It will first bepresumed that the trunk device 77 is used in a local switching center25(0) which is described in conjunction with FIG. 11 and has a localhierarchy. The trunk device 77 receives received synchronization signalsof zeroth and first series from a higher hierarchy switching center25(H) as zeroth and first received synchronization signals p0 and p1.

Such trunk devices are used in pair in each of the central master, thelocal master, and the terminal mobile service switching centers assynchronization trunk devices of the zeroth and the first series 77(0)and 77(1), which may be called briefly either as zeroth and firstsynchronization trunk devices or zeroth and first trunk devices. Each ofthe zeroth and the first trunk devices is supplied with the zeroth andthe first received synchronization signals as first and second inputsignals S(1) and S(2) and a selected synchronization signal as a thirdinput signal S(3). The selected synchronization signal will presentlybecome clear.

When attention is directed to the zeroth trunk device 77(0), the zerothand the first-series will be called local and different series. As forthe first trunk device 77(1), the zeroth and the first series are calledthe different and the local series. Each of the trunk devices comprisesa synchronization signal (SYNC) regenerate and relay circuit 79 which issubstantially identical with the synchronization processing systemillustrated with reference to FIG. 12 and is supplied with the firstinput signal of the local series, the second input signal of thedifferent series, and the third input signal of the different series asthree input signals and with a sequence of clock pulses CLK, a localhierarchy indication signal H(0), and a local master/slave indicationsignal MS(0).

The first through the third input signals and the clock pulses aresupplied to the selecting arrangement described with reference to FIG.12. Rather than to the three input signals, different degrees ofpriority are allotted to input terminals of the selection controller 63of the selecting arrangement in the manner indicated by numerals 1through 3 attached to the synchronization signal regenerate and relaycircuit 79. The numeral 1 indicates a highest degree of priority and thenumeral 3, a lowest degree of priority.

The local hierarchy and master/slave indication signals are supplied tothe selection controller 63 mentioned above and collectively controlsits operation in four controllable states. When put into a first one ofthe controllable states, the selection controller 63 selects one of thefirst and the second input signals as a normal signal, in considerationof the different degrees of priority. When put in a second one of thecontrollable states, the selection controller 63 selects one of thethree input signals as the normal signal according to the differentdegrees of priority.

So selecting the normal signal in each of the first and the second onesof the controllable states, the synchronization signal regenerate andrelay circuit 79 generates a regenerated synchronization signal fromeither the nonvolatile pattern memory 55(1) described in conjunctionwith FIG. 8 or from the nonvolatile memory 69 of FIG. 12. In the mannerdescribed with reference to FIG. 12, the regenerated synchronizationsignal has a current phase which is adjusted to the normal signal if atleast one of the three input signals is normal. If the three inputsignals are all abnormal, it is impossible to select the normal signal.In this event, the current phase is kept at a previous phase which hasbeen given to the regenerated synchronization signal before either thefirst and the second input signals or the three input signals went allabnormal. The regenerated synchronization signal is used as an outputparticular signal S(r).

A hierarchy indicator 81 is for producing the local hierarchy indicationsignal indicative of whether or not the local hierarchy is a highesthierarchy. The hierarchy indication signal therefore does not indicatethe highest hierarchy unless the trunk device 77 is included in thecentral master mobile service switching center, which may be the higherhierarchy switching device 25(1) described in connection with FIG. 1 orthe higher hierarchy switching center 25(H) of FIG. 7 or 11.

A master/slave (M/S) indicator 83 is supplied with a receivemaster/slave indication signal MS(r) from the trunk device of thedifferent series 77(1) and produces the local master/slave indicationsignal which indicates one of master and slave states at a time. Themaster and the slave states may alternatively be referred to merely asfirst and second states.

The receive master/slave indication signal is used in the trunk deviceof the different series as a local master/slave signal. When this localmaster/slave indication signal indicates the master state to the trunkdevice of the different series 77(1), the local master/slave indicationsignal of the trunk device of the local series indicates the slave stateto the synchronization signal regenerate and relay circuit 79 beingillustrated. In this manner, the master/slave indication signalexclusively indicates the master and the slave states.

An output switch 85 is supplied with the output particular signal andcontrolled by the local hierarchy indication signal and produces theoutput particular signal as a switched particular signal S(s). The trunkdevice of the different series 77(1) is supplied with the switchedparticular signal of the trunk device of the local series 77(0) as thethird input signal thereof. The output switch, such as 85, will later bedescribed.

A hierarchy indication supply point 87 of the synchronization signalregenerate and relay circuit 79 represents a hierarchy controlarrangement. Supplied with the local hierarchy indication signal, thehierarchy control arrangement (87) controls the controllable states intofirst and second states when the local hierarchy indication signal isand is not indicative of the highest hierarchy. The first and the secondstates will shortly become clear.

A master/slave indication signal supply point 89 of the synchronizationsignal regenerate and relay circuit 79 indicates a master/slave controlarrangement. In response to the local master/slave indication signal,the master/slave control arrangement (89) controls the first state intoprimary and secondary states and the second state into the first and thesecond ones of the controllable states when the local master/slaveindication signal indicates the master and the slave states.

The synchronization signal regenerate and relay circuit 79 is thereforeput into the primary and the secondary states only when included in thetrunk device of the zeroth or the first series of the central mastermobile service switching center. Otherwise, the synchronization signalregenerate and relay circuit 79 is put only into one of the first andthe second ones of the controllable states at a time.

When the primary state is indicated as the controllable states, thenormal signal is selected from none of the three input signals. When thecontrollable states are switched to the secondary state, the normalsignal is selected from the third input signal alone. When thecontrollable states are given the first one thereof, the normal signalis selected from the input signals of the local and the differentseries. When the controllable states are put into the second onethereof, the normal signal is selected from all of the three inputsignals.

A monitor circuit 91 is supplied with the output particular signal andthe clock pulses. Like the period monitors 61 of the selectingarrangement, the monitor circuit 91 monitors whether the outputparticular signal is normal or abnormal based on the clock pulses. Aresult of monitoring is delivered to a synchronization state outputterminal 93 as a synchronization state signal. If the output particularsignal is abnormal, the synchronization state signal is used as an alarmsignal indicative of occurrence of a trouble in the trunk device 77(0)being illustrated. The alarm signal is therefore used as a trunk devicetrouble signal like the generator trouble signal described inconjunction with FIG. 5.

The local master/slave indication signal is supplied to the monitorcircuit 91. As long as the output particular signal is normal, themonitor circuit 91 delivers as a supply master/slave indication signalMS(s) to the trunk device of the different series based on the localmaster/slave indication signal. If the output particular signal isabnormal, the monitor circuit 91 requires that the trunk device of thedifferent series should be in the master state. The local master/slaveindication signal is kept to indicate the slave state.

It is now understood that the trunk device 77 is operable by itshardware logics primarily to select one of the three input signals andto produce the switched particular signal. As an output synchronizationsignal, the switched particular signal is relayed in the manner whichwill later become clear.

Turning to FIG. 14 with FIG. 13 continuously referred to, asynchronization signal processing system is for use in a local switchingcenter 25(0) of a local hierarchy which is not a highest hierarchy. Thesynchronization signal processing system is therefore supplied withreceived synchronization signals of the zeroth and the first series froma higher hierarchy switching center 25(1) or 25(H) as zeroth and firstreceived synchronization signals, such as p0 and pl.

The synchronization signal processing system comprises synchronization(SYNC) trunk devices of the zeroth and the first series 77(0) and 77(1),which are herein called zeroth and first synchronization trunk devices.Each of the zeroth and the first synchronization trunk devices 77(suffixes omitted) has a structure illustrated with reference to FIG.13. In the manner described before, the zeroth and the first series willbe called the local and the different series in connection with thezeroth synchronization trunk device 77(0) and the different and thelocal series with regard to the first synchronization trunk device77(1).

The zeroth synchronization trunk device 77(0) is supplied with thesupply master/slave indication signal from the first synchronizationtrunk device 77(1) as the receive master/slave indication signal. Thefirst synchronization trunk device 77(1) is similarly controlled by themaster/slave indication signal of the zeroth synchronization trunkdevice 77(0). Such master/slave indication signals are labelled MS. Oneof the zeroth and the first synchronization trunk devices 77 isconsequently operable in the master state while the other of thesynchronization trunk devices 77 is put in the slave state.

Each of the synchronization trunk devices 77 has three input terminalsassigned with different degrees of priority 1 through 3, which will becalled primary and secondary degrees of priority as regards the zerothand the first synchronization trunk devices. As before, the degree ofpriority 1 and 3 is highest and lowest degrees of priority.

The zeroth synchronization trunk device 77(0) produces the switchedparticular signal of the zeroth series as a zeroth particular signal t0.The switched particular signal of the first series is produced by thefirst synchronization trunk device 77(1) as a first particular signalt1.

The zeroth synchronization trunk device 77(0) is supplied with thezeroth received synchronization signal p0 at the input terminal numbered1, the first received synchronization signal p1 at the input terminal 2,and the first particular signal as the afore-mentioned selectedsynchronization signal at the input terminal 3. The firstsynchronization trunk device 77(1) is supplied with the first receivedsynchronization signal p1 at the input terminal 1, the zeroth receivedsynchronization signal p0 at the input terminal 2, and the zerothparticular signal at the input terminal 3. In this manner, each of thesynchronization trunk devices 77 is supplied with the receivedsynchronization signal of the local series with the highest degree ofpriority and with the particular signal of the different series with thelowest degree of priority.

In FIG. 14, the synchronization signal processing system comprises arelay trunk device of the zeroth series as a zeroth relay trunk device95(0) and a relay trunk device of the first series as a first relaytrunk 95(1). Each of the relay trunk devices 95 (suffixes omitted) hastwo input terminals assigned with higher and lower degrees of priority 1and 2.

The particular signals of the local and the different series aresupplied to the input terminals 1 and 2 of each relay trunk device 95and are monitored and then selected according to the degrees ofpriority. As a supply synchronization signal of the zeroth series, suchas q0, the zeroth relay trunk device 95(0) produces one of the zerothand the first particular signals that is monitored as normal and isselected according to the degree of priority. As a supplysynchronization signal of the first series, such as q1, the first relaytrunk device 95(1) produces one of the zeroth and the particular signalsthat is monitored as normal and is selected according to the degrees ofpriority.

Each of the zeroth and the first relay trunk devices 95 has a structurewhich is illustrated with reference to FIG. 13 and is simplified as isobvious from the above. Use of the output switch 85 is preferred.

It is preferred that the zeroth synchronization and relay trunk devices77(0) and 95(0) and the first synchronization and relay trunk devices77(1) and 95(1) are operable by different power sources. In any event,the illustrated synchronization signal processing system is primarilyoperable in response to the received synchronization signals toregenerate regenerated synchronization signals in the manner describedin conjunction with FIG. 13 and to relay the received synchronizationsignals as the supply synchronization signals.

Referring afresh to FIG. 15 in addition to FIGS. 13 and 14, thedescription will proceed to a modification of the synchronization signalprocessing system illustrated with reference to FIG. 14. Similar partsare designated by like reference numerals and are similarly operablewith likewise named signals unless otherwise explicitly mentioned in thefollowing. It should be noted that the relay trunk devices 95 mayalternatively be called repeat trunk devices 95 and are so labelled inFIG. 15.

The synchronization signal processing system is for use in a switchingcenter of a highest hierarchy, namely, in the central master mobileservice switching center CM MSC described above. The highest hierarchyswitching center may be the higher hierarchy switching center 25(1)described in conjunction with FIG. 1 or the higher hierarchy switchingcenter 25(H) of FIG. 7 or 11 and is connected to a lower hierarchyswitching center which may be the lower hierarchy switching center 25(2)of FIG. 1 or the local switching center 25(0) described in connectionwith FIG. 7 or 11.

The synchronization signal processing system therefore processesreceived synchronization signals of the zeroth and the first seriesreceived from the lower hierarchy switching center as zeroth and firstreceived synchronization signals, such as r0 and r1 described withreference to FIG. 11, to supply the lower hierarchy switching centerwith supply synchronization signals of the zeroth and the first series,such as p0 and p1. Like in FIG. 14, each of the zeroth and the firstsynchronization trunk devices 77 has a structure illustrated withreference to FIG. 13. Each of the zeroth and the first relay (repeat)trunk devices 95 has a structure of the type of FIG. 13 withsimplification.

Each of the synchronization trunk devices 77 is supplied with thereceived synchronization signal of the local series at its inputterminal 1 of the highest degree of priority and with the particularsignal of the different series at its terminal 3 of the lowest degree ofpriority. Each of the relay trunk devices 95 produces the supplysynchronization signal of the local series. It should be noted that eachof the synchronization trunk devices 77 is supplied with the supplysynchronization signal of the different series.

It will readily be understood that each of the zeroth and the firstsupply synchronization signals is the one of the synchronization signalssupplied through the lower connection lines 27(1) to 27(3) depicted inFIG. 6. Delay adjusting the loop back signal B6 of FIG. 4 in the mannerdescribed with reference to FIG. 7 through 10, the lower hierarchyswitching center produces, as each of the zeroth and the first receivedsynchronization signals, the phase synchronized synchronization signaltransmitted through the higher connection lines 27(0) described inconnection with FIG. 5.

In the synchronization signal processing system illustrated withreference to FIG. 14 or 15, a combination of the zeroth synchronizationand relay trunk devices 77(0) and 95(0) will be called a synchronizationsignal processing device of the zeroth series. Another combination ofthe first synchronization and relay trunk devices 77(1) and 95(1) willbe called a synchronization signal processing device of the firstseries.

It may be mentioned in connection with the highest hierarchy switchingcenter that the synchronization signal processing devices of the zerothand the first series may both be involved in troubles. When the troublesare removed in at least one of the synchronization signal processingdevices of both series, a phase jump may occur before occurrence andafter recovery of the trouble in the zeroth or the first supplysynchronization signals generated by this one of the synchronizationsignal processing devices. In the manner described in conjunction withFIG. 14, it is preferred that the synchronization signal processingdevices of the zeroth and the first series are operable by differentpower sources.

Turning to FIG. 16 with FIGS. 13 through 15 continually referred to, thedescription will proceed to another modification of the synchronizationsignal processing system illustrated with reference to FIGS. 14. Similarparts are again designated by like reference numerals and are similarlyoperable with likewise named signal.

The synchronization signal processing system is for use in the highesthierarchy switching center connected to two or more lower hierarchyswitching centers which are the local master mobile service switchingcenters described before. It will be assumed that the synchronizationsignal processing system receives primary received synchronizationsignals of the zeroth and the first series from a first lower hierarchyswitching center as primary zeroth and first received synchronizationsignals r0 and r1 and secondary received synchronization signals of thezeroth and the first series from a second lower hierarchy switchingcenter as secondary zeroth and first received synchronization signalsr'0 and r'1.

It is possible to understand that either the lower hierarchy switchingcenter 25(2) or the local switching center 25(0) of FIG. 7 or 11 showsthe first and the second lower hierarchy switching centers in duplicate.It is alternatively possible to understand that the local hierarchy andthe lower hierarchy switching center 25(L) are the highest hierarchy andthe first lower hierarchy switching center and that the switching center25(H) is the second lower hierarchy switching center although called the"higher hierarchy" switching center therein.

Supply synchronization signals of the zeroth and the first series aregenerated and sent to one of the first and the second lower switchingcenters as zeroth and first supply synchronization signals p0 and p1. Itshould be understood a similar pair of supply synchronization signalsshould be supplied to the other of the first and the second lowerhierarchy switching centers. Only one pair is, however, illustrated.

Like in FIG. 14, each of the zeroth and the first synchronization trunkdevices 77 is supplied with the primary received synchronization signalof the local series at its input terminal 1 of the highest priority andwith the particular signal of the different series at its input terminal3 of the lowest priority. The secondary received synchronization signalof the different series is supplied to the input terminal 2 of themiddle priority. It is possible to supply the secondary receivedsynchronization signal of the local series to the input terminal 1 andthe primary received synchronization signal of the different series tothe input terminal 2.

In other respects, the circuitry is similar to that illustrated withreference to FIG. 14. Advantages are achieved like those described inconjunction with FIG. 15.

Referring to FIG. 17, the output switch 85 of FIG. 13 is used in each ofthe zeroth and the first synchronization trunk devices 77 and the zerothand the first relay trunk devices 95 described in conjunction with FIGS.14 through 16. In the manner described with reference to FIG. 13, theoutput switch 85 is supplied with the output particular signal S(r) andcontrolled by the local hierarchy indication signal H(0) and switchesthe switched particular signal S(s). In the example being illustrated,the local hierarchy indication signal is given a high and a low level toindicate the highest hierarchy and others, respectively. Thesynchronization and the relay trunk devices 77 and 95 of each of thezeroth and the first series may comprise the hierarchy indicator 81 ofFIG. 13 in common. The local hierarchy indication signal is received ata local input terminal 101.

In the manner described in connection with FIG. 14, the synchronizationand the relay trunk devices 77 and 95 of each series are put inoperation by a power source of a source voltage Vs.

A power monitor 109 is for monitoring the source voltage and produces areset signal which has a logic zero level when the source voltagedecreases below a predetermined voltage. The local hierarchy indicationsignal is used as a set signal of the logic zero level when the localhierarchy indication signal is not indicative of the highest hierarchy.A flip-flop circuit 111 is set by the set signal of the logic zero leveland reset by the reset signal of the logic zero level to produce aflip-flop output signal, which is inverted by a set/reset inverter 113into a first AND input signal given a logic one level only while theflip-flop circuit 111 is set.

When manually closed, a control switch 115 produces a control signal.Pulled up by the source voltage, the control signal provides a secondAND input signal. The control switch 115 is usually open to give thelogic one level to the second AND input signal.

A three-input AND gate 117 is supplied with the output particular signalas a third AND input signal. Controlled by the first and the second ANDinput signals, the AND gate 117 produces or does not produce theswitched particular signal.

Such output switches 85 are for reliable maintenance of thesynchronization processing system of the local hierarchy, particularlyof each of the synchronization trunk devices 77 used in the switchingcenter of the highest hierarchy. When a trouble occurs in the powersource, each output switch 85 stops supply of the switched particularsignal.

Referring again to FIGS. 15 and 16 in addition to FIG. 17, use of theoutput switch 85 will be described. It is assumed that a newsynchronization or relay trunk device 77(n) or 95(n) must be substitutedfor an old synchronization or relay trunk device 77(o) or 95(o) that hasgone into a trouble.

The description will first be directed either to the synchronization orthe relay trunk device 77 or 95 used in a switching center of other thanthe highest hierarchy. In such an event, the control switch 115 isclosed in the new synchronization or relay trunk device before mountingor setting in position of the new synchronization or relay trunk device.After confirmation of the synchronization state signal described inconnection with FIG. 13, the control switch 115 is turned open.

The description will now be directed either to the synchronization orthe relay trunk device 77 or 95 used in the switching center of thehighest hierarchy. Should either the synchronization or the relay trunkdevices 77 or 95 of the zeroth and the first series be replaced by newtrunk devices, a new trunk device is first substituted for one of theold trunk device.

Before substitution, the control switch 115 is closed in the new trunkdevice. Furthermore, the hierarchy indicator 81 of FIG. 13 is made totemporarily produce the local hierarchy indication signal which is notindicative of the highest hierarchy.

As soon as set into position, the new trunk device can select either ofits input terminals 1 and 2 of the highest and the middle degrees ofpriority and can not produce the switched particular signal. Afterconfirmation of the synchronization state signal, the local hierarchyindication signal is made to indicate the highest hierarchy. The newsynchronization trunk device now can not select its input terminals 1and 2. On the other hand, the new relay trunk device can select itsterminal 1 or 2. Finally, the switch 115 is turned open.

The synchronization signal processing system can nevertheless beoperable in the master state to generate the supply synchronizationsignal of a concerned one of the zeroth and the first series with nophase jump because the received synchronization signals are suppliedfrom one of four lower hierarchy switching centers.

Another new synchronization trunk device is now substituted for theother of the old synchronization trunk devices. Before substitution, thecontrol switch 115 is not turned open but is kept closed. Aftersubstitution, the synchronization state signal is confirmed. Inaddition, it is ensured that the new synchronization trunk deviceselects the particular signal of the different series supplied to itsinput terminal 3. Furthermore, the hierarchy indicator 81 of FIG. 13 isset temporarily to the none-highest hierarchy state and is subsequentlyset to the highest hierarchy state. This new synchronization trunkdevice is rendered operable in the slave state. Eventually, bothsynchronization trunk devices 77 are operable exclusively in the masterand the slave states.

If only one of the synchronization trunk devices 77 is involved in atrouble, the other of the synchronization trunk devices 77 is kept inthe master state. Substitution of a new synchronization trunk device istherefore carried out in the manner last described. If the trouble orthe troubles come from the power source or power sources, it is possibleto remove the trouble in the manner described above without using newsynchronization trunk device or devices but using the synchronizationtrunk device or devices currently used.

In FIG. 17, the local input terminal 101 is used as a set signalproducing arrangement. A combination of the flip-flop circuit 111 andthe set/reset inverter 113 serves as a flip-flop arrangement. Thecontrol switch 115 may be called a control switch arrangement togetherwith an accompanying pull-up circuit. Attention may be directed to onlythe first and the second AND input signals, which may alternatively bereferred to as first and second control signals.

While this invention has thus far been described in conjunction with anappreciable number of preferred embodiments thereof and severalmodifications, it will now be readily possible for one skilled in theart to put this invention into effect in various other manners. Forexample, it is possible to use more than two time division switches,such as 79, in each synchronization signal processing system. For a morereliable operation of the mobile communication networks and for easiermaintenance of the synchronization signal processing system, it ispossible to use synchronization signals of one or more than oneadditional series, such as a second series, in addition to thesynchronization signals of the zeroth and the first series, with thesynchronization and the relay trunk devices 77 and 95 accordinglyincreased in number. It is furthermore possible to use a plurality ofpairs of the relay trunk devices for the synchronization trunk devicesof the zeroth and the first series, with each pair composed of the relaytrunk devices, such as 95(0) and 95(1), in which each relay trunk deviceis supplied with the zeroth and the first particular signals. When usedin dealing with the synchronization signals of the zeroth and the firstseries, each of the period monitors 61 of FIG. 12 is used in connectionwith the signal of one of the series with the selection controller 63and the signal selector 65 preferably controlled by a signal indicativeof the zeroth and the first series.

What is claimed is:
 1. An output switch for use in a highest hierarchyswitching center as one of a synchronization trunk device and a relaytrunk device, each comprising a synchronization signal generate andrelay circuit operable by electric power of a source voltage to producean output signal and a highest hierarchy indication signal indicative ofthe fact that said output switch is used in said highest hierarchyswitching center, said output switch comprising:a set signal producingmeans for stopping production of a set signal when supplied with saidhighest hierarchy indication signal: a power monitor for monitoring saidsource voltage to produce a reset signal when said source voltagedecreases below a predetermined voltage; flip-flop means set by said setsignal and reset by said reset signal to produce a first control signalwhile said flip-flop means is set; control switch means manuallyswitched for normally producing a second control signal unless manuallyswitched; and gating means responsive to said first and said secondcontrol signals for gating said output synchronization signal as aswitched synchronization signal.
 2. An output switch for use in a localtrunk device used in a switching center of a local hierarchy as one of asynchronization trunk device and a relay trunk device, each comprising asynchronization signal regenerate and relay circuit operable by electricpower of a source voltage to produce an output synchronization signaland a local hierarchy indication signal indicative of whether or notsaid local hierarchy is a highest hierarchy, said output switchcomprising:set signal producing means supplied with said local hierarchyindication signal for producing a set signal when said local hierarchysignal is not indicative of said highest hierarchy; a power monitor formonitoring said source voltage to produce a reset signal when saidsource voltage decreases below a predetermined voltage; flip-flop meansset by said set signal and reset by said reset signal to produce a firstcontrol signal while said flip-flop circuit is set; control switch meansmanually switched for normally producing a second control signal unlessmanually switched; and gating means responsive to said first and saidsecond control signals for gating said output synchronization signal outof said output switch as a switched synchronization signal.